Chapter 64. Ghost Shadow Thief (5)
"I'll teach you half of my footwork."
"All or nothing—I don't understand what you mean by 'half.'"
"Just so we're clear, it's not because I only have one leg left that I can only pass down half of my footwork."
"…What exactly do you take me for? I would never be so disrespectful as to think that."
"It was a joke. Though, judging by your reaction, it doesn't seem to have landed well."
He was likely trying to adapt to his condition as a one-legged man in his own way, but it was a difficult joke for me to respond to.
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Ghost Shadow Thief continued speaking.
"The essence of my footwork, Ghost Shadow Step, lies in deception. It deceives the opponent about distance and even fools the perception of a Flowering Stage martial artist."
"Deception, you say?"
"That's right. You've seen my movements, so let me ask—how did they feel to you?"
"They were faint yet fast. More than anything, what amazed me was how you forced your opponent to react half a beat slower."
"I didn't expect you to grasp that much, but you're correct. Mere speed alone won't allow you to replicate my footwork."
Ghost Shadow Thief let out a small chuckle before continuing.
"The key is to disrupt your opponent's perception, making your movements seem unpredictable, drawing out their openings. Then, you throw yourself into the gaps that appear. That is the core of Ghost Shadow Step. And that's what I will teach you."
"In other words, you won't be teaching me anything beyond that."
"Haven't I said from the beginning? I'm only teaching you half. Stealth isn't achieved through footwork alone. It requires movement techniques as well. If I were to teach you everything, I would essentially be passing down my entire martial art. And that, I cannot do."
Footwork and movement techniques were inherently interconnected—they inevitably influenced each other. It wasn't surprising that there were footwork techniques completed only when paired with a matching movement technique.
After all, martial arts were about maximizing strengths and compensating for weaknesses, creating harmony between techniques.
However, one thing still weighed on my mind.
"Senior, I recall that you never wished to leave behind your martial arts. Yet, you're willing to pass down even half of it to me. I'm curious about your reasoning. You've already repaid your debt for saving your life with Glacial True Qi."
"It's nothing complicated. I saw you when I mistook you for having succumbed to qi deviation, and I also heard how your duel with Jeon Il-bi played out."
Ghost Shadow Thief's gaze grew distant for a moment, as if he were looking at something beyond this place.
"You must have lost something precious before. The scars from that loss must have twisted you."
"The world of Murim is truly merciless. Your circumstances are unfortunate, but you're hardly the only one who has suffered bitter experiences."
"I know. It's just that very few people survive such trials, and even among those who do, even fewer manage to rise to prominence—so they remain unnoticed."
Even now, somewhere in the world, there must be someone swallowing their own misery.
The endless cycle of vengeance breeding more vengeance was not some distant tale.
I had experienced it firsthand in my past life.
Seo Mun-Hwarin, having lost her family, exacted revenge upon the unorthodox sects of Jiangxi Province, including the Black Sky Sword Sect.
The surviving son of the Black Sky Sword Sect's master later rebuilt his father's sect and, in turn, sought vengeance upon Seo Mun-Hwarin.
And I, having lost both Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin in the process, hunted down and killed anyone even remotely associated with the Black Sky Sword Sect.
Many perished before they could even complete their revenge, but… that was simply the nature of Murim.
A place filled with swordsmen, warriors with unbending pride—that was what Murim was. It wasn't all camaraderie and honor.
There was a reason why the Orthodox Sect was so highly regarded.
They knew when to cut off grudges, valued gratitude over vengeance, and extended their hands to others first—that's why they were respected by the people.
But Ghost Shadow Thief wasn't merely stating the obvious cruelty of Murim.
"Despite all that, you still formed new bonds. Someone who once lost everything now has something to protect again."
"…That's…"
"I won't ask about your circumstances. And I won't tell you about mine either. But one thing is clear—I don't want to see a young martial artist, not even yet in his twenties, repeat the same mistakes I did."
Ghost Shadow Thief looked me directly in the eyes as he spoke. His gaze carried traces of regret… but also a hint of relief.
"So grow stronger. And when you do, don't forget why you sought strength in the first place. That will be enough."
"I promise. Your teachings will not be used in vain."
This was my genuine vow.
Though I was often astonished by the sheer scale of the Tang Clan's resources, I had once stood at the peak of the Transcendence Realm.
There were more things I could do than things I couldn't. If I had set my mind to it, I could have lived a life of unparalleled wealth and luxury.
Instead, I had spent my fortune collecting and studying the martial arts of the Central Plains.
Of course, all of that had been shattered with the emergence of the Heavenly Demon.
The world was vast, and there existed geniuses beyond my comprehension. And I had to protect my people from that monster.
There was no room for foolish indulgence in power.
As if he sensed my sincerity, Ghost Shadow Thief flinched slightly. Then, he let out a satisfied laugh and nodded.
"Good. Then, let's begin transferring the core principles. You should be able to apply them directly to your footwork."
"Is that even possible? No matter how I look at it, our martial arts are entirely different."
"It's possible. My martial art is a patchwork of techniques I stole, so it tends to integrate well with others.
…Besides, haven't I already examined the Seo Mun Clan's martial arts before? I'll make the necessary adjustments for you."
I silently narrowed my eyes at him.
Ghost Shadow Thief averted his gaze and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Hmph. Don't look at me like that. Didn't your teacher, unlike me, say she would let go of petty grudges from the past?"
"I was just looking at you."
"Well, for just looking, your stare feels rather murderous."
"I've been told that often. My expressions tend to be stiff."
"And yet, when you were with your fiancée, your lips were loose and relaxed beyond measure…"
"…Are you seriously comparing my fiancée to an old man? Enough talk, let's get started."
"Tsk, tsk. And here I am, having to teach while being treated like this."
Despite his grumbling, Ghost Shadow Thief straightened his hunched back. After clearing his throat once, he began.
"As I mentioned earlier, Ghost Shadow Step is fundamentally a deceptive footwork. Speed is merely a secondary aspect."
"I saw you exploit gaps in perception while fighting the Soul Reaper. When you say 'deception,' do you mean understanding these gaps and using them against your opponent?"
The blink of an eye, the brief moment when an inhale turns into an exhale, a lapse in concentration, personal habits, weaknesses in one's martial arts—
There is no such thing as a perfect technique, nor a perfect human.
Everyone, even if only for a fleeting moment, has instances where they are more vulnerable than usual.
Given that my martial arts rely on seizing these openings and tearing into my opponent's weak points, I was naturally attuned to this concept.
However, it seemed I had misunderstood something.
"The end result may be the same, but the process is entirely different."
Ghost Shadow Thief let out a small chuckle and lightly tapped his foot.
In an instant, he had moved behind me.
"Just now—did you see my movement?"
"Yes. You jumped to my right and moved directly behind me."
"Correct. Then what about this?"
As I turned to answer, he demonstrated his footwork again.
However, this time, I couldn't quite catch his movement.
I could tell he had started toward my side, but suddenly, as if time had skipped, he was back in his original position.
"…Did you accelerate midway?"
"My speed was the same. Can you figure out where the difference lies?"
I fell silent, carefully comparing his two movements.
However, the only thing I could conclude was that this wasn't a simple technique one could grasp with just a moment of thought.
"…I don't know. I don't believe I lost focus, though."
"Well, not knowing is natural. After all, this technique is designed so that the person experiencing it firsthand won't realize what's happening."
Ghost Shadow Thief chuckled and pointed to the ground.
"I left footprints on purpose. Take a look—you'll understand immediately."
At his words, I looked down.
And there it was—the clear difference in the angles of the two sets of footprints.
"…Oh."
"Now do you see?"
"Yes. The angles of the two steps are different. Even the depth of the imprints varies."
"Exactly. They appear similar but are actually slightly different. However, you instinctively judged the second movement based on what you saw the first time."
"In other words, it looks the same as before, but in reality, it's different—so it comes across as an unpredictable movement."
"Precisely. The essence of Ghost Shadow Step lies in refining these deceptions and applying them over a wider range."
Rather than exploiting gaps in perception, this technique creates them to exploit.
There was undoubtedly an element of illusion in its footwork.
But ultimately, the true essence of this martial art was…
"Dominance."
Not about always being ahead—but ensuring that, in the crucial exchanges of moves, one remained a step ahead.
Placing one's strongest attack against the opponent's weakest point.
A technique designed to ensure one always maintained superiority.
It wasn't merely about deception.
It was about destabilizing the opponent's rhythm, widening the openings, and pressing the advantage further.
That was the Ghost Shadow Step I had witnessed.
"…Am I wrong?"
"If that's what you think, then that's what it is."
"…What kind of irresponsible answer is that?"
"Well, it's not like you'll be using it exactly as I do. I'll teach you properly, but just take the parts that are useful to you. It's easier that way for both of us, isn't it?"
"That's… true."
Neither of us had ever learned martial arts through proper instruction.
We had simply taken bits and pieces from here and there, modified them, and adapted them to suit ourselves.
Moreover, Ghost Shadow Thief was someone who preferred evasion over direct confrontation.
Even if we used the same technique, our perspectives on it would naturally differ.
As I nodded in understanding, Ghost Shadow Thief clasped his hands behind his back and spoke.
"Now that you've grasped the concept, focus. I will now recite the oral formulas."
The martial arts transmission continued until the first light of dawn.
I would still need to refine it to suit me and practice until it became second nature—
but with this, I had taken another step forward.
During the day, I dueled with disciples of the Wudang Sect.
Occasionally, I would find myself staring absentmindedly at the sword marks engraved on the sect's plaque.
At night, I pondered how to integrate Ghost Shadow Step into Thunderclap Step.
And when I returned to my quarters, I spent time idly chatting with Tang Sowol before eventually drifting off to sleep.
Several days passed like this.
Then, at last, a messenger from the Tang Clan arrived at Wudang.
"It's been a while—though not too long, Young Master. It seems Miss Sowol is not suited for extended stays away from home."
The elderly man greeted me with a genial smile.
It was none other than Tang Cheolyeong, the leader of the Dark Soul Unit, whom I had once traveled with.